I was thinking the rag-tag crew could help find a boat, and then they turn out to be kinda shitty, and they could wind up dead or too drunk to stand up, or whatever. it's a temporary measure, one that Octavius will quickly find to be a bad idea. 
as for buddy, he has neither a name, nor a position XD my imagination hasn't gotten that far.

I suppose I could back it up, though, if you want...